The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-25

There are over 100000 of acres OF the
finest grazing and farming lands in Dakota
lying west and north of Devils Lake, which
have been withheld from the operations of the
homestead and pre-emptlon laws because of
the questionable claims OF email band of
Turtle Mountain Chippewas TO the land
In January, 1856, Surveyor General Taylor,
OF Dakota, contracted for the surveys of
30, 900 acres of these lands in compliance with
existing relations, but In less than a month
with characteristic ignorance and perversIty,
Commissioner Sparks issued an order in
definitely postponlng the surveys, and
even went 30 far as To decline TO
place on file plats OF several townships
surveyed under contracts approved prior
to the action suspending surveys, after
their examination i'll the fie and their cor
rectness was affirmed Mr.. III. c. Green,
as contractor for these surveys, appealed TO
the Secretary of the Interior, who has recently
overruled the Land Commissioners action
and ordered that the suspended contracts be
approved and plats of surveys already made
be filed III the proper local land Offices for
disposal under the land laws. The Surveyor
General has instructed the contractors TO pro-
coed with the surveys as rapidly as possible
This action causes great rejoicing among
the settlers in the Devils Lake land di .trict
hundreds Of whom settled upon unsurveyed
lands after the reversal, in 1882, by Secretary
Teller, of the order of Secretary Schurz, made
two years previous, Withholding the lards
from occupancy Secretary Teller, in his
opinion, now affirmed by Secretary Lamar
says
Il am Of the opinion that the claim is not
we'll founded, yet if it should appear on a care
full examination of the facts that such a claim
does exist il will be the duty of the Govern
ment to make proper compensation TO
the Indians l do not think nearly 10, 100000
acres of valuable lands, on which great
number OF settlers are now located, should
be withheld from the operations of the home
bqpan sa "A
ton has been raised whether the small band
of Indians mot exceeding three hundred) have
a claim on this land or not 1t is not con-
tended by anyone that the Government has re-
cognized this claim of the Indians by treaty with
them, and the Indians make no use of the
land except TO roam over il, not cultivatng, l
think, any OF IT
The vast tract of land now opened to settle
ment possesses natural advantages unsur-
passed by any other part of Dakota Its lands
are exceedingly fertile, affordng the choicest
pasturage, and producing wheat of the finest
quality, and rivaling that of the famous
Saskatchewan country. There IS an abund-
ance of wood along the streams, providing
cheap lumber, az well as fuel for the early
settlers The extensive coal deposits of the
Turtle Mountains, and in the Mouse River
valley, insure cheap fuel for the future, and
invite manufacturing industries.
The removal of all barriers to the settle
ment and development of the country will
hasten the completion and extension of the
Cando, Bottineau, and other projected branch
es Of the Manitoba Railroad Company With
its free lands, wealth and diversity of natural
resources, and present and prospective facili-
ties for reaching the primary markets, we
know of no region offering 80 many induce
ments TO intending emlgrants
During the next two or three years we shall
witness tide of immigration into the extreme
northern part of Dakota, and transforma-
ton of virgin prairies into fine farms, and
hnmpa hannV nanpla
scarcely equaled in the history of Dakota, and
which was impossible in the settlement of
other States and Territories NORTH Ddkota
Farmer